At this special time of year we hear Christmas carols just about everywhere we go. They are on the radio, on television, in the malls, being sung by groups of people here and there. All of the carols have special joy and meaning to them.

Luke chapter one tells of the song that celebrated the coming birth of Jesus. Jesus’s mother Mary was singing the song after she had been told by an angel that God would be giving her the Child of God to carry. God was sending His Son to save us from our sins, and Mary was to be His earthly mother.

No doubt Mary, as a Jew, knew the stories and promises of the Old Testament. She knew the promise in Genesis 3:15 that took place right in the Garden of Eden after man had fallen into sin. God promised that He would send a Savior to redeem His people. Again in Isaiah 7:14 we read, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Mary had great joy knowing that these promises were to be fulfilled through her Son, the child that she would bear. She went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was experiencing her own miracle from God. I am sure there was a lot of joy between those cousins as Mary sang in Luke 1:46, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”

As her song continues, it is a reflection of the fact that she believed the message of the angel and the promises of God that He would bless His people through sending His Son. I hope you will take advantage of this time of year to think on the special promises of God.

I hope that as you reflect on the celebration of Christ, you will think of Him as the Promised One who has come to save you from your sin. Find in His Word in John 3 how having faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, you can have eternal life.

As you reflect on the promises of God throughout this holiday season, I hope you follow Mary’s example and trust Him. I hope that you will praise Him and trust Him to save you. Merry Christmas!

Ann Shorb is a counselor in Pennsylvania. She founded CCES in’97 to help people with a wide variety of situations. In addition to counseling, see also is a writer and a speaker.